Sins of the Father
Chapter nine
Infiltration
or
It's Time

Suteko and the crew stood inside the shop across from Fukushuu compound.  "All right, you all know the plan."  He looked them over. Each face looked back steadily.  "Stick together and avoid any guards you see.  Remember our goal is the room with Ranma, no extra fights."  He shot a look at Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo.  They nodded.

"Good.  Now follow me and when we reach the end of the tunnel, give me ten minutes."

The rescue team entered the trap door and slid down the ladder.  The passage was dark and filled with cobwebs. The shop owner passed down a couple of lanterns and some flashlights.  Suteko thanked him and passed them out.  As they set out, Akane came forward to walk at his side.  "Are you sure we can trust that man?"

Suteko nodded. "Mr. Tsuirno was Uncle Tanto's closest friend.  They vowed brotherhood.  He would never betray my uncle or me as his heir."

The trip through the tunnel was tense.  Each member was readying their various weapons.  Mousse adjusted his sleeves,  the faint sound of metal echoing in the stone hall.  Shampoo hefted her Bonbori and slid them back into place.  Ukyo checked the hang of her bandoleer and gripped her battle spatula tightly.  Finally they reached the end of the tunnel without mishap.  Suteko stopped them just before the entrance.  He nodded to each team member and then stepped and disappeared.

The temple was quiet inside.  The faint scent of incense rested in the air.  Suteko eased past the statue and looked about.  Things looked very different when he was using this technique.  The colors of things were off and any movement seemed slow. The temple was empty and he moved out of the temple into the courtyard.  He spotted two guards over by the main house and moving quickly he pulled his staff out and came into view, just in front of them.

"Hello."  He smiled as the men did a double take and then quickly rapped them each on the skull.  The first obstacle was dealt with.  He dragged the men away from the building and into the temple.  After Suteko tied and gagged the two guards, he returned to the house.  Slipping inside was amazingly easy.  He left the side door open for the others and moved silently along the halls.  Between the ability to sidestep and an intense training in stealth, Suteko was more like a ghost than a person.  On the ground floor he found it easy to avoid the various people working there.  He chuckled as he appeared and disappeared.  The first time he decided to appear to a person was in the kitchen.  It was an old and fun trick.  When a young girl first learning to step sideways she used to pop up in the kitchen, scaring her uncle's cook.  With a chuckle he stepped into the room and demanded food and water, making a real nuisance of himself until just when the food was ready , then he disappeared.  The next time was across the ground floor in what looked to be a trophy room.  When Suteko stepped into the room it was empty.  He examined the various weapons on display. The variety of edged weapons and the still visible blood stains made him shudder.  He stood contemplating one particularly bloody piece when a man walked into the room.

"What are you doing in here?"  His voice was surprised and when Suteko turned to face him the guard's eyes grew big.  "You!"  As far as the guard knew, the boy before him was supposed to be asleep in a room off the master's workroom.

"Me."  Suteko smiled and fell into a combat stance.  The man took one look and ran out. He knew that the master had plans for this young man and he didn't want to get in the way.  Suteko laughed out loud.  This was fun.  Looking like his brother could come in handy in the future.  Still chuckling he turned and went out and continued his reign of confusion.

*****************************************

Meanwhile back in the tunnels, the team was preparing to leave.

"It's time."  Akane pointed her flashlight at her watch.

"Let's hope Suteko has taken out the guards."  Mousse said grimly.  The others nodded as they started up the ladder.  One at a time, they came up into the old temple.  The saw the two unconscious guards and made their way quietly across the yard.  They slid into the back hall and after a quick check at their map, they headed toward the room that Suteko believed Ranma to be held in.  Their movement through the halls seemed too easy and Ukyo commented on it.

"Where is everyone?"  She looked around nervously.

"Suteko is just doing her job."  Akane whispered but she too was nervous.  From all Cologne and Suteko had said it should have been much harder to get where they were.  But they walked thorough the empty halls much too easily.

******************************

The concern was well founded.  Inside many of the walls were sophisticated surveillance cameras.  Ito had been informed of the team's progress through his home.  He also knew of the duplicate Ranma's presence.  When first informed of his prize wandering loose he had been surprised.  He had just to look through the doorway to his left to see the boy.  Who was this duplicate?  He had no report of a second boy matching Ranma's description.  He thought about the possible identity of the boy.  Before him were files on the boy and his friends.  He knew of the curses that they suffered from.  Could the new person have a curse too?  He watched the monitors in his desk and after the encounter in the trophy room he was sure that the boy was in reality his great-granddaughter.  She was the only other living member of the family who knew the secret.  Her mother was a simple woman.  He had bought her soul with the offer of true revenge on that Genma person. He had been surprised at the skill the child had shown.  She would be an excellent compliment to her half brother.  With some training she might even match his skills.  Ito smiled cruelly.  He would take all these children and have just the tools he needed to take down his old enemies.

Each of the children heading toward the "secret" room were of a high skill level.  The two boys having in one great strength and endurance, the other a great weapon skill and the art of hiding those weapons.  Of the three girls, only Ranma's fiancee, Akane, held no interest for him.  She was a good fighter but held too much temper. Her ability to pull a massive mallet from no where was interesting but not enough to go to the trouble of keeping her.  He would use her as the first test of Ranma.  Killing her would prove the boy was his. He stood and walked to the bedside of the slumbering boy.  It was time to administer the second treatment, wiping the boy's memories.  It was too bad that this wasn't all he needed to do.  The memories could be brought back with a simple blow to the right spot on the skull.  Luckily none of the children below were up to the boy's ability.  He watched as the boy started to wake and then reached out and tapped his skull again.

Ranma opened his eyes slowly.  Nothing looked familiar.  He searched his mind for anything that was.  He blinked in confusion at the face of the old man above him.  Ito looked down and spoke.  "Hello, my son."

*************************

The team made it easily to the corridor leading to the basement room.  Akane peaked around the corner and counted.  Pulling her head back she whispered.  "There are seven men in a large room.  One sitting at a desk, four at a table and two by the door."

"What do they have weapon-wise?"  Mousse asked, pushing up his glasses.

"I didn't see any guns but I did see a couple with swords."

"I will deal with those."  The others nodded.  Mousse's hidden chains would be best for taking out the swords.

"Let's go," Ryouga cracked his knuckles impatiently.

As one they ran around the corner and attacked.  The guards sprang up and pulled out their hidden weapons. Each of the team found themselves facing opponents.

Mousse sent his chains arcing out toward the two swordsmen.  The first was ensnared but the second dodged and charged forward.  Mousse dropped the chains and calmly brought out his hand claws.  He and the guard slowly circled each other before dashing in and slashing at each other.  Mousse parried the sword with one set of claws, trapping it between the thin metal blades of the claw. With the other clawed hand, he swung at the swordsman.  The guard dodged back just in time - but not before the claws tore open his shirt, cutting deep enough to leave four long, thin red marks on his exposed skin. The swordsman showed surprise for the briefest of moments, but then smirked.  "You are good, boy."  The guard stepped back and prepared for a second charge.  Mousse took a defensive stance and waited for the attack to come.

Ukyo found herself facing a fighter holding twin tonfa, or short sticks.  She held her battle spatula across her body, and charged, swinging.  The woman easily blocked the giant cooking tool with the sticks and kicked out, aiming at Ukyo's knees.  Ukyo jumped straight up to dodge the woman's kick, which shattered a decorative statue sitting nearby. The okonomiyaki chef counterattacked, flying downward with an outstretched foot, barely missing the tonfa woman, who had rolled out of the way just in time.  Ukyo started to break a sweat. "This one's gonna be tough," she thought to herself as her and the woman traded blows....

Shampoo leapt, flying with one foot out toward her opponent, a well-muscled man who held no weapon. "But from his look," Shampoo thought,  "he no need one."  The man sneered at the Amazon's attack and grabbed Shampoo's kicking foot, throwing her viciously towards the wall.  Keeping calm as she accelerated towards the concrete barrier, Shampoo turned her body and used her feet to touch the wall briefly and jump off it, flying back toward her opponent. Pulling out her prized weapons, her bonbori, she flipped over once and brought the heavy weight on the end of one down in a slashing motion, intending to knock him out.  However, the man managed to stop it - with his bare hand!

"Is that all you can do, girl?" the man said, hardly changing the sneer on his face.

"Aiyaa!" Shampoo spoke in disbelief. "He strong opponent!"

Still sneering, the large man threw Shampoo again, making her lose her hold on one of her bonbori. The other clattered on the floor, and moments later, Shampoo followed it, landing painfully. The big man advanced menacingly, holding the Amazon's bonbori in his hand like a club. Shampoo desperately rolled to her feet, and pulling a hidden shuriken from behind her ear, she threw it at the man. The man felt a sharp pain as the throwing star sliced his cheek on the left side.  With a bestial roar, the man charged the now unarmed Shampoo....

Compared to Shampoo's opponent, Ryouga's looked diminutive.  A small man in Chinese clothes blocked his way. Smiling inwardly at his fortune at getting such a small opponent, Ryouga ran forward and punched the little man's face, sending him flying into the pavement. The little man stood up and smiled. Charging again, Ryouga tried a kick, which connected with the man's ribs. The man never changed his expression as Ryouga tried punches, kicks, and uppercuts, all of which failed to faze the man.  "What's he made of?" Ryouga thought, getting frustrated. "I've hit him hard enough to smash open that stupid skull of his, and he's still standing! What do I have to do?" Ryouga yelled a battle cry as he turned quickly and performed a spinning kick to the man's head, hitting hard.

The little man only smiled as his head snapped back and attacked with a flurry of punches, causing Ryouga to flip backward and assume a defensive posture. "Grrr...." Ryouga growled "Bakusai Tenketsu!" Ryouga poked the cement floor, causing it to crack and rupture in front of the Chinese man, who dodged with little difficulty.

The little man finally spoke "Ah, so you know that little trick too....heh.  Doesn't it go like this?" The man poked the ground with his own finger, causing it to rupture around a surprised Ryouga who had to jump to the side to avoid being swallowed up.

"So _that's_ how come I'm not getting him," Ryouga thought. "He had the same endurance training I had!  This is going to be more interesting than I thought!" Ryouga said aloud.  "Come on!" He assumed a combat stance, re-thinking his strategy.

The little man took on a grim expression and flew at Ryouga with punches and kicks. Both connected with hard blows, and it didn't look like either one was going to fall anytime soon....

Akane moved toward the two guards still standing at the door.  She was unsure just what to do.  She wasn't quite the fighter that her friends were.   One of the guards noticed her and laughed.  "Come here little girl.  We'll protect you from the fighters over there." He leered at Akane and then looked over at the other guard and grinned.  "Look what we have here, a pretty play thing."  He didn't get much further as he slumped to the ground with Akane's mallet resting  firmly on his skull.  The other guard took a look and with a sick expression he pulled out a staff and swung at Akane's hands, hoping to knock the mallet out of her hands.  Akane grimaced in pain as the staff hit her wrists smartly, but her grip on the mallet held as she used it to bring the staff's end up and get within the man's defense, connecting hard with the man's head. The man slumped to the floor, unconscious.  "Guess I'm not that bad after all..." Akane said, smiling.

Akane never saw the third guard who suddenly leaped out of the shadows and attacked her.

The guard leapt out with his hands, grabbing Akane's throat and squeezing. Akane screamed and dropped the mallet, clutching her hands vaguely in back of her to try and attack the man, but to no use.  The man lifted the struggling Akane off her feet, still squeezing the life slowly out of Akane. Akane flailed in frustration, but gradually, her flailing grew weaker and weaker. A weak Akane concentrated, focusing herself through the lack of oxygen as the room swam before her...

The guard saw Akane seemingly lose consciousness and go limp. He smiled evilly at his success and turned to help the others with their opponents...

Ryouga heard Akane's cry from the other side of the room as he battled with the Chinese man, who was struggling to peel himself off a wall to attack. Ryouga turned toward the direction of the scream and looked around the room, seeing his friends locked in battle with their opponents.  And then he saw, with horror, his worst nightmare.  Ryouga looked in terror as he saw Akane go limp in the guard's large hands. The guard dropped the short-haired girl roughly, and Akane crumpled to the floor.

"No..." Ryouga thought. "Akane..." He looked to the form of the youngest Tendo girl, unmoving on the cement floor. "Akane....it can't be...no! I never even told you I...that I...noooooooooo!" Ryouga's screaming thoughts came out of his mouth in a roar of "Nooooooooooo!"

The other fighters stopped to look at the screaming Ryouga in bewilderment. The Chinese man had managed to pick himself off the wall and stand in front of Ryouga, wondering why he wasn't attacking. And then Ryouga saw the smile on the guard's face, as he turned.

The killer of the one he loved.

"Oh Akane...it just can't be!!!" Ryouga thought painfully. And in his hand, a small green ball of energy began to glow....Anger rushed up and covered Ryouga's face as he shouted at the guard through his tears. "YOU!!! YOU...WILL......PAY!!!!" The ball of energy grew brighter and larger as it began to take shape in Ryouga's hands....

The Chinese man looked at Ryouga fearfully, seeing the dangerous buildup within the boy...

Ukyo, Shampoo, and Mousse stopped their fighting and looked at the glowing Ryouga. Knowing what was coming they all ran for cover, leaping behind the statues in the room.

Their opponents, on the other hand, were left wondering what was wrong with their enemies. They found out all too soon...

Ryouga's depression had reached it's peak. He sweated profusely as he kept the massive amount of energy inside him. But now he released it, attacking with all the pain and anguish he felt over seeing Akane crumple to the floor...

"SHISHI HOKOUDAN!!!" yelled Ryouga as he let the energy fly from his hands. A full bar of green energy flew toward the guards and engulfed the entire room in destructive chi energy. The giant blast knocked out all of the guards the team was fighting as it traveled, and slammed into the guard who had supposedly killed Akane, causing him to fly through the door at the end of the room and into the long hallway. Ryouga fell to his knees, seeing the guard and his fellows pass out on the floor unconscious.  As the energy dissipated, Ukyo, Shampoo and Mousse peeked out of their hiding places behind the statues. Creeping out slowly and carefully, they examined the unconscious bodies of the guards.

"Wow. He beat them all." said Shampoo as she and Mousse bent over each fallen guard.

"That boy's got some serious power," said Ukyo walked over to the dazed Ryouga. "Hey sugar, are you OK?"  She shook him gently.

Ryouga came back to himself and stared at what he had done. He saw the guards passed out and his friends looking at him with concern.

"I'm OK," said Ryouga, as he realized again the situation. "Akane!"

He and the team walked over to the fallen Akane, who seemed dead.  Ryouga knelt by Akane's side as the others looked on with grim expressions.

"She...she... no dead, is she?" said Shampoo, who looked down at the form of Akane.

"Seems..seems that way," said Ukyo as she looked at Ryouga, who clutched Akane's hand in his, and looked like he would never let go.

"Oh Akane..." Ryouga said through closed eyes and tears. "It can't be...I never told you that I..that I..."

"That.... you..... what, Ryouga?" a weak voice said.

Ryouga's eyes snapped open has he looked at Akane trying to sit up.

"You're alive! Thank God!" Ryouga cried as he squeezed Akane in a hug.

Akane smiled uncomfortably as Ryouga embraced her in a bear hug.   "Of course I'm .....alive! We have to...get to Ranma, remember? Say, what happened to the guards?"

Ryouga let go of her suddenly and put his hand behind his head, laughing nervously "Sorry. I sorta...." He trailed off.

Akane stood unsteadily, supported by Shampoo and Ukyo. "Well, as long as the threat's gone. C'mon. We have to go find Ranma, right?"

"Yeah.." said Ryouga as he stood up.

The team walked out of the room together, leaving the guards behind.

"By the way," Ukyo said.  "How did you survive that? I thought you were...gone..for sure.."

Akane smiled and leaned off of Shampoo and Ukyo, able to walk on her own. "You guys aren't the only ones who know martial arts tricks," she said as she winked.  "I have a few of my own. After all, I'm a martial artist, too!"

The team moved off in silence after that, towards the door at the end of the long, dark, hallway.

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Akane was the first to enter the room.  Her hand slid out to the side, groping for a light switch.  For some reason it was dark in here.  "Ranma?"  As the light flicked on her eyes scanned the room.  She couldn't see him anywhere.  She stepped deeper into the room and there was a splash as she fell into a cleverly disguised pool of water.  She quickly sank under the water.

Ryouga's head spun about as he heard the splash and he rushed into the room looking for Akane.  The other three followed right on his heels.  None of them saw the pool.   As the water closed about their heads Ryouga, Shampoo and Mousse converted to their cursed forms.  Ukyo caught on quickly and stroked downward, looking for Akane.  She grabbed her by the collar and pulled her to the surface.  With a little maneuvering they each got out of the pool.  Akane lay gasping for air.  When she got it back she was surprised to see P-chan looking at her in concern.  "What are you doing here?"  The others just looked at her and shrugged.  She still hadn't figured it out.

They were all startled as the door to the room slammed shut.  Ukyo and Akane went to it and tried to force it open, with no luck. Then a voice drifted down from the ceiling followed by a strange odor.  "Welcome to your new home, children."  They all drifted out of consciousness as the gas being pumped into the room reached them.  Akane was the last to succumb.

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Suteko made his way up the back stairs to the top floor. He was finding it harder to move through the halls.  Even though invisible to the people here, he could be detected if he brushed up against or knocked into something.  He stood, still, when he reached to top and looked down the hall.  He had not expected quite so much traffic up here.  According to the plans he had, this floor was for the servants and some storage.  By the furnishings he could see otherwise.  Where the furniture along the hall on the second floor was large and heavy, the furniture here was ornate.  He ghosted down the hall, as it cleared and slid into the first open door.  It was a bedroom.  There was a large European bed covered with a velvet throw.  "Definitely not a servant's room,"  He thought.  He spun about as he heard a commotion coming from the hall.  He catfooted it to the door and looked out into the hall.  What met his eyes was a dismal sight.  Being carried by a group of guards was the rescue team.  He watched with a sinking stomach as each member was carried past.  They all hung limp but he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Ukyo let out a low moan.  They were just unconscious.

Stepping back into the room, Suteko bit his lip.  They were in real trouble.  He was now the only member of the team free and loose.  How could one lone teenager get the others free?  His thoughts flashed from one plan to another.  After a moment he smiled and slipped out of the room.  There was a chance, if he could slip into the room holding the captives.

Suteko followed behind the guards, being sure to stay just far enough behind them not to be noticed.  They rounded a corner and came to a guarded door.  He couldn't quite catch what the men said but the guard opened the door and gestured for them to enter.    Suteko got as close to the rear of the group as he could but the man at the door swung the door shut before he could enter.  Swearing under his breath he moved toward a second door.

Just as he was reaching for the knob he heard a voice and froze.  "Who are these people, father?"  It was Ranma!  Instead of  opening the door Suteko leaned an ear against it to listen.

"They are to be your companions, my son.  All but one.  She is an enemy of the clan and must be disposed of.  But do not worry about these things my son.  Go now.  Eat.  We will deal with them together in a little while."

Suteko jumped back as the door swung inward.  Suteko stood, still as a stone and watched his brother hug the man who had taken his memories.  His thoughts swirled in chaos.  Here was Ranma, right before him.  Should he chance grabbing him and bringing him back to Doctor Tofu and the old Chinese woman?  With his memories returned the two of them could come back and get the others free.  Suteko smiled.  "Yes."  Ito turned back into the room and closed the door.  Ranma turned to walk over to a waiting guard.

Suteko took that moment to appear.  He stepped and appeared in front of his brother.  "Ranma, come with me."

Ranma let out a yell and sprang backwards.  "What the...?"  He landed in a ready stance, automatically.  "Who are you?"  He glared at Suteko.  "Why do you have my face?"

Suteko held out his hands in a calming gesture.  "It's me, Ranma.  Suteko.  Come on, your father is waiting for you at home."  Suteko tried to think of something that would convince Ranma to come but was interrupted by the guard behind him.

"Master Fukushuu?  There's another one!"  One guard charged forward while the second opened the door and called back into the room.

Suteko spun and swore.  This wasn't working at all.  He reached out and grabbed Ranma's arm.  "COME ON!"  Then he tried to step sideways and pull Ranma with him.  The only problem was that Suteko hadn't yet learned how to take someone the size of Ranma with him yet.  Suteko faded from sight, leaving a stunned Ranma standing, staring at where the figure had been.

Suteko ran down the hall and slipped into the same room as earlier.  "Damn it!  Uncle Tanto, I still can't do it!"  He pounded his leg with a fist.  Tanto had told him that to take someone with yourself took more skill than a young warrior could expect.  He had not mastered that himself until he was twenty five.  Suteko had been sure that he could do it before then.  Now the worse thing was that Ito would know that Suteko was here and running loose.  The guards would be on the look out for anything vaguely strange.  This was going to be much harder.  Somehow he was going to have to free his new friends.

*****************************

Ito stepped out into the hall and watched the confusion.  He turned to the guard and barked, "REPORT!"

The first guard came to attention and spoke, "As the young master was coming down the hall another young boy appeared out of no where and tried to grab him.  He had just laid a hand on the young master and then faded from sight." The guard stood puzzled.  "We are not sure where the other boy has gone Master."  He bowed low at the waist.

Ito smiled.  "It seems that the child is more daring than I thought."  He turned to face Ranma.  "How are you my son?"

Ranma was struggling with a half formed thought.  The boy's green eyes stayed in his mind.  There was something about them.  After a moment he shook his head to clear it.  "I am fine, father.  What was that?"

"It was nothing my child.  Nothing to concern yourself about yet, anywise.  Go have your dinner boy.  I will explain to you later."  Ranma gave a slow nod and followed the guard down the hall.

Ito turned to the other guard and spoke.  "I want you to keep a close eye on the children in that room."  He tilted his head toward the door.  The boy you saw is here to relieve me of my prize.  I will take no interruption of my plans."  The guard nodded and turned back to his post.  Ito smiled and re-entered the room.  It was time to prepare the children.

*****************************

Akane awoke to find herself strapped to a chair.  She shook her head to clear it of the lingering effects of whatever it was that had put her out.  "Hello, Miss Tendo."  She looked to her left as the a deep voice spoke.  Standing there was an impressive elder man.  He was tall and muscular with a lined face.  If she looked long enough she could see a faint resemblance to Ranma and Suteko.  This must be Ito!

With the widening of her eyes Ito laughed.  "Ah, I see you recognize me.  Good.  Then we can begin."  He walked around his side and over to a set of switches.  Pressing a random one, the wall in front of her slid back.

Akane let out a small cry as she saw her friends chained to the wall, unconscious.  "What have you done to them!?"  She pulled at her bonds.  The bands holding her arms down were too strong for her to pull her arms loose.

"Why, no more than I have done to your fiancé, Ranma."  He smiled and continued.  "Just a gentle tap to their heads."

"He isn't my fiancé."  Akane mumbled her normal response but with little true feeling behind it.  "Why aren't I with them?" she asked with a touch of fear.

"Because, Miss Tendo, I find that you do not have anything I truly desire in a follower.  You will be much more useful as a test of loyalty for my new heir."  He pushed another button and a screen lit up to show Ranma sitting at a table, eating slowly.  

"Ranma," Akane whispered.  He was acting so different.  He never ate like that.

"Yes, Ranma.  He will be a great asset to the clan.  Once I join him and his sister to the clan, we will be unstoppable.  Akane felt hope.  He hadn't found Suteko yet.  There was a chance.  Ito turned and looked at her.  "Oh, don't feel too much hope that my great-grandchild will help you.  One transformed child against me will not succeed."

Akane shivered.  He knew of  Suteko's curse!  Their secret was out.  She truly hoped that Suteko had received a measure of Ranma's luck, he was going to need it.  "Now, girl, you will tell me what my grand-daughter can truly do.  I do not wish to harm the child more than necessary to capture her."

Akane tightened her lips.  "I don't know what she can do.  I've only known her a day."

Ito's face grew angry.  "You trusted my descendant in the span of a day and you know nothing of her?"  How disappointing."  He looked up as the door to the room opened.  Akane saw a beautiful older woman step into the room.  It was Suteko's mother, Atsuko.  "This girl knows little of your daughter.  Maybe you can tell me more of her abilities?"

Atsuko stood with a hand on the open door.  "What is there to tell?  She was always a troublesome child.  Always looking for the honorable path.  I left her in Tanto's hands too much.  I hadn't realized he was teaching the child more than weapons' skill."  She shrugged.  It was obvious that she held little love for her daughter.  "She is good enough with the staff but I don't believe he taught her any of the other arts.  They spent more time playing in the country than truly working on her skills."

Ito walked over and pulled the door from her hand and shut it.  "He took long enough to train her in the family secrets.  She has the ability.  You did not pay enough attention."  He walked back to the control panel and closed the wall, blocking Akane's view of her friends.  "We must find the girl and add her to my collection.  She will be a fine tool with the proper training."

Atsuko smiled.  "It will be as you wish, grandfather."  She bowed.

"It had better be."  Ito glared and then left the room.

Atsuko kept the smile on her face until he had left the room and then turned to the bound girl.  "So, you are the fiancee of dear Nadoka's boy?"  Akane just glared.  Atsuko threw back her head and laughed.  "Oh, my revenge is so sweet.  Soon Genma and Nekoosa's precious son will be grandfather's heir, following in his wise footsteps."  She walked to the monitor showing Ranma, "And my oh so honorable daughter will follow her dear half-brother's footsteps."  She turned to face Akane.  "I think after we have the boy kill you, I will ask grandfather to have them deliver your body to them and then have him slowly kill them while I watch!"  The gleam of madness in the woman's eyes made Akane's blood run cold.  She was totally crazy.

******************************

Suteko stayed hidden in the hall for an hour.  Waiting wasn't easy but Tanto had taught him that is was always necessary.  Finally he saw his mother walk to the door leading to the room the team had been taken into.  He ghosted across the hall and stepped close to his mother.  He knew that he wouldn't have long to sneak into the room when his mother opened the door.

As if making up for his earlier bad luck his mother stood in the room holding the door open.  Suteko took it as a sign from the gods and slid past his mother and into the room.  As he got past the doorway he spotted Akane strapped to a chair and moved to stand across from her.  He listened to the plans of his grandfather and scowled.  Those plans would never happen, he would make sure of that.

Suteko stood, still as stone, and listened to his mother's plans.  His heart sank.  He had not wanted to believe that Atsuko had changed so very much.  To tell a young girl that she was going to have her fiancé kill her and then have him kill his own parents.  He swallowed back the tears that came to his eyes.  "No, Mother, I won't allow this."  He stepped into view.  Akane's eyes widened with hope.

Atsuko spun about.  She saw a boy standing by the doorway.  She was confused at first but after looking for a long moment into the green eyes she knew this was not Ranma.  Her mind refused to accept that this boy was her daughter in male form, just as she had not accepted Ito's explanation earlier.  "How did you make it here, boy?"

Suteko sighed, "You know how."  He stepped forward.  "Release Akane."  His voice allowed no room for argument.  Atsuko stepped away from the girl bound in the chair and toward the row of buttons on the wall.

"And why would I let her go, boy?"  She reached and pushed a button.  An alarm sounded, startling both Suteko and Akane.  Atsuko then spun about with a staff in her hands.  "You will stand very still, young man.  Grandfather seems to desire your presence and what grandfather wants he gets."

Suteko moved forward,  reaching for the staff.  The room was too small for a staff battle and he didn't wanted to hurt his mother, no matter what she had become.  He caught the hard wood as it came down.  Using the advantage of his size he pulled hard but Atsuko twisted to the side and kicked out at his knee.  Suteko jumped over the kick and flipped over his mother's head, taking the staff from her hands. "I'm sorry Mother but I have to do this."  He quickly brought the staff down on the back of her head, knocking her unconscious.  He caught her as she fell and eased her to the floor.  "Why, Mother?  Why side with Ito?"

With a sigh he got back to his feet and looked over the row of buttons.  Pushing the one labeled restraints, he turned as he heard a click.  Akane was up and out of the chair faster than a thought.  "Come on, we have to get the others loose!"

"No, Akane.  We can't do that from here."  Suteko shook his head.

"Why?"  She moved forward.

"None of the buttons here can release their bonds, plus they are going to be out for hours. How can you and I carry the whole group out by ourselves?"  Akane stood with her mouth open for a moment but then she nodded.  Suteko moved to the door and eased it open.  "We have to get out of here, now."  He could see a squad of four guards heading toward the room they were in.  "Akane, we're going to have to fight our way out of here."  Akane stepped up and peeked out the door.  "I don't know your fighting ability but if we work together we should be able to get past these guys.  When we do, I want you to head out and do the following."  Suteko quickly outlined a plan and then swung the door wide and ran into the hall.

The guards stopped in their tracks when they spotted Suteko.  He smiled at crooked a finger. "Come on guys.  Let's rumble."  The guards looked at each other and then as one moved forward.  Suteko spun the staff he had taken from his mother, moving forward in a sidewise motion.  The first two guards flanked him.  One was bare handed, the other held a pair of nunicuckas.  The one with the nuncuks darted forward aiming at the boy's hands.  Suteko short armed the staff, catching the other's weapon and whipping it out of the guard's hands.  He then brought the staff back down, catching the man on the skull, hard.  As the first crumpled the second moved in and grabbed hold of the end of Suteko's staff.  It was now his turn to try and keep hold of his weapon.  The man was much stronger than Suteko and he had to fight to keep his grip.  Using the weapon as a lever, he sprang up and over his opponent, trying to take his weapon out of the man's hands.  It didn't work.  The guard pulled and Suteko had to twist to make sure to land on his feet.   They started a tug of war, to see who would keep the staff.

Akane waited until the guards had moved past the door and then darted out with her mallet and smashed one in the back of the skull.  She smiled as the man fell and moved to make another hit when the third guard turned about.  It was the same guard who tried to strangle her earlier.  Her eyes widened and she gripped her mallet's handle tighter.  The man slowly smiled.  "Well, hello again little one.  I guess my embrace earlier wasn't enough for you."  At first Akane trembled but as the man's grin grew wider she started to fume.  "Just come closer and I'll caress you again."  He reached out his hands, not noticing the red glow coming off the small girl.  As he stepped closer Akane wound up and with a yell brought the mallet down on his skull hard.

"You....BAKA!"  She watched pleased as the man's eyes crossed and he slowly fell to the floor, stunned.

Suteko darted a look over at Akane.  He saw that she was clear and yelled over to her.  "Akane!  Go, now!"

She took a step toward him.  "No, we should go together."

Suteko could see two more guards rushing up from behind Akane.  "GO!  Now!  Remember the plan!"

Akane noticed Suteko's widening eyes and spun about.  She saw the guards and understood.  She had to be free to carry out the plan.  She spun back and ran past Suteko and the guard.  She called out as she left.  "I'll be back soon!"

Suteko nodded and turned back to the man.  He pulled hard and fast, nearly pulling the staff from the man's grip.  Then Suteko let go of his mother's staff and vaulted backwards out of the reach of the large guard.  Reaching, he pulled his own ironwood staff from staffspace and the two engaged.  Reach can be essential in staff combat but Suteko had the advantage of total mastery of his weapon.  With the rattle of wood against wood he parried the guard's first attack and spun about, bringing his staff to rap along the man's ribs.  The guard's breath came out in a whoosh and he staggered to the side.

Suteko grinned but the expression faded quickly as the other two guards came within range.  The first charged forward, swinging a boken.  Again Suteko parried and backed up.  The man's wooden sword was much faster than a staff and he had to bring to bear all his agility and training to dodge the man's lightening fast blows.  Finally luck gave him a break and he lashed out with the butt of the staff and tripped the boken wielding foe.  He quickly followed up with a blow to the head, grounding another opponent.  He turned back to the large guard, jumping over the staff swing and returning with a hit aimed at the man's hands.  Just as his staff come down he felt a sting on his exposed neck and reached up, automatically.  The room grew fuzzy and his fingers felt a dart. "Damn," he said as he slid to the floor.

			****************

With a final look at the embattled Suteko, Akane turned and ran toward the stairs.  The only hope was for Akane to find Ranma and re-awaken his memories.  Suteko felt that a combination of her mallet and her features should be enough to bring them back.  But Akane had thought of one more thing.  Ranma's change tended to break many of the spells put on him.  If she could get some water she just might be able to trigger that change.  She turned into the last room before the stairs.  She had heard Ito's voice coming up and needed a place to hide.

"I want that one alive!"  Ito bellowed, stopping the downward blow of a staff.  The guards looked up and bowed.  Ito walked over and stood over Suteko's body.  Suteko could still see fuzzily and was trying to shake of the effect of the drug.  Ito lifted one finger and the larger guard lifted Suteko from the floor, his staff clattering from his nerveless fingers.  The smile on Ito's face was sinister.  "Bring him."

Akane closed the door to the room.  She closed her eyes for a moment and the thought sank in.  "Now they have Suteko too!"  He eyes darted about the room. There had to be something in here she could use.  She walked in to the attached European style bath.   It was strange, different then she was used to.  She rummaged through the cabinets beneath the sink and found two covered pots that would work to hold water.  She filled one with cold and the other with hot.  She knew that one way or the other they would both be needed.  After she was done she tiptoed out of the room and back down the hall.  In the time it took to find and fill the containers, the hall had emptied.  She looked into the open door of the room she had been held in.  It was empty, so she moved inside.  Walking to the panel of buttons, she pressed one labeled surveillance.

A panel moved back and revealed a row of small screens.  Her eyes darted from screen to screen.  She finally saw Ito and the guards.  They were bringing Suteko into the room holding her friends.  Suteko struggled in the hands of two large guards.  Ito waved a hand and they released Suteko, who stood defiantly, the anger clear in his face. They bowed and awaited orders.  "You two, I want you to search the house.  There is one more child running loose.  Find her and bring her here."  The two men bowed again and backed out of the room.  Ito then turned to face Suteko.

"You surprise me, child."  Akane could clearly hear the amusement in Ito's voice.  "The drug in Hei's darts usually renders a person unable to move for at least twenty minutes.  You seem to have shaken off the effect much faster.  I wonder how?"

Suteko growled, "Maybe it's an advantage of my changed body."

Ito nodded.  "That could be true.  I will have to study these curses.  It is always wise to know the limitations of every tool."

Suteko shook with contained rage.  "You are talking about people, my friends, not tools."

"Ah, but everything and everyone in this compound is but a tool in my plans."

******************************

Akane read the label under the monitor.  It said that the room was on the third floor.  That was good.  She should be able to get there in a short period of time.  She started to turn away when she saw Ranma step into view.  Her heart beat a little faster on seeing him but his expression worried her.  He first looked for instruction from Ito but as the man was speaking with Suteko his gaze turned that way.  Akane saw a look of fear, disgust and then a slight bit of confusion cross his face.  It was obvious that the boy standing next to Ito had no idea who the other boy was.  

Ito leaned over and whispered into Ranma's ear.  Akane couldn't hear what was said but the look of horror that passed over his face motivated her into action.  She spun about and ran, hoping to make the holding room quickly, before something happened.  She prayed that no one would be in the halls as she ran there.

******************************

Suteko stood, fists clenched in front of his great-grandfather.  "Your plans do not matter, old man."

"Ah, but they do, child.  I have in my hands a very potent weapon and you shall find that I will use it."

He took a small step forward but stopped at the bonds on his new friends grew tighter.  "Not if I can stop you."

"Hahahahhaha," a tear of laughter slid down the lined face.  "You..stop me?  Me!''

Suteko turned his eyes to his mother with a faint hope.  Once she had been the center of his life but what he saw there made his heart sink.  Her face was one of rejection and contempt but other things were starting to show.  Slowly her face transformed as all the final clues clicked in her mind.  The woman was still standing in shock.  That her child had turned on her was bad enough but this, this transformation was more than she could deal with.  Her overloaded mind shut down and she collapsed.

Ito noticed his grand-daughter's collapse. "Typical of a woman."  The contempt in his voice was scathing.  "You, child, could have had anything but you pitted yourself against your better."  He gestured and Ranma stepped forward.  "Now, I will have my son destroy you."

Ranma scowled at the mirror image of himself standing there.  Grandfather had just told him that this creature was not human but a demon in his form.  But the words exchanged between them just didn't add up with that explanation.  There was a nagging voice in the back of his mind telling him that he should not listen to Grandfather but he shook his head and attacked.

Suteko sprang backwards as Ranma rushed him.  He knew that he was in deep trouble.  He was no match for his brother's speed and ability.  He could only hope to stave off his attacks long enough for Akane to make it back here.  He used all of his talent in dodging and weaving. He used all the skills he could muster, trying as best as he could to avoid the lightening fast attacks of her half brother. Using all of his fighting experience in the fight, Suteko was still barely only able to get away from Ranma. A fierce attack by Suteko landed a lucky blow to Ranma's exposed stomach, but not before Ranma paid him back with a backhand to the face.

Suteko had realized from the beginning that he was no match for his half-brother, so he employed dodging and keep-away attacks only, always moving, using everything, anything in the room as a springboard to get away from Ranma. But Ranma kept at him.

Suteko was getting tired. The battle to free Akane had drained him considerably, and he still felt the effects of the drug course through his veins. Suteko decided to try to fade out and reappear somewhere else in the room. Sidestepping an attack by Ranma, he disappeared from view and turned his back to run away from the relentless Ranma. "Got to get away...get away...," Suteko thought to himself. Suddenly a red-and-black blur appeared in front of him. Suteko could not stop his momentum in time as Ranma stepped directly in his path and began his attack.

"Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken!!!!" Ranma yelled as Suteko was suddenly pounded by what seemed to be a hundred fists, pummeling him mercilessly. Suteko only managed to block a few as the rest of the punches came through his already weak defense. Suteko felt three ribs crack under the force of Ranma's attack, which finished with a hard spinning kick to Suteko's knee, moving the delicate joint out of place and crippling him.

As Suteko reappeared, grabbing at his ribs with one hand and his knee with the other, he looked up at Ranma standing over him and whispered, "How?"

Ranma pulled his hand back for a final blow to his duplicate's head when he heard Ito call, "HOLD."  Ito slowly came down the stairs and walked over to Suteko.  With a smile he placed a firm hand on Ranma's raised one.  "Just a moment, son."  He turned to Suteko.  "The clan's secret does have one flaw, child."  He pointed to the floor.  There, clear as day were footprints, in his rush to get away Suteko hadn't realized that the floor was covered in some sort of powder.

Suteko closed his eyes and did something he rarely did.  He prayed.  And his prayers were answered.  With a resounding crash the doors to the room slammed open and Akane ran in.  "Ranma you Jerk!"  Akane ran forward holding one of her mallets in one hand and a small pot in the other.  With a cry of "Suteko," she threw the pot, which arced through the air and hot water splashed out and covered the downed male form.   Suteko groaned as she turned female, feeling her injured ribcage get smaller and the broken ribs grinding together.

Ranma stood still in shock.  His mind was fighting to remember something.  The form on the floor had just changed into a small girl, a familiar looking girl.  The struggle could be seen clearly on his face.  Who was this person?  He looked up at the girl rushing toward him with a mallet in her hands.  He wasn't sure why but he knew that the mallet would hit him no matter what he did.  And that he wanted that blow to land.  He pushed his grandfather away as Akane's mallet came crashing down.

At the look of surprise on Ito's face Suteko breathed a sigh of relief.  Had Akane done it?  Had she hit the right spot?  With care she pulled herself to  her feet, careful not to put weight on the damaged leg.  She glared at her great grandfather and then turned to face her brother.  "Ranma?"

His eyes were glazed for a moment but then they cleared.  He looked at the girl in front of him and smiled.  "Why did you hit me, Akane?"

A radiant smile broke over Akane's face and she threw her arms about Ranma.  "You're back!"  Ranma blushed and put an arm about his fiancee.  He looked over with a pained expression at Suteko.  The guilt for the hurt he had done was clear in his blue eyes.  Suteko just nodded.  They would talk when it was over.

Ranma pushed Akane away and turned to Ito.  "You."  He balled together his fists.  "You dare to make me like you."  Ranma's voice dropped low and held contempt.  "You threaten my friends and you made me hurt my sister.  You will pay!"

Ito looked disappointed.  His plans had been brought down by the one girl he had discounted.  He glared hatred at Akane and in an instant disappeared.  Suteko growled and limped sideways, dragging herself across the floor.  She was going to follow him and finish his evil once and for all.  Only she forgot for a moment that her knee no longer  hold back the pain.

Suteko took a breath and nodded.  "If we can pop it back in and find something to brace it with I should be able to hobble my way out of here on my own power.  And we better do it quickly.  Great-grandfather will be back any minute now with more guards."

Ranma looked about and his eyes stopped on a small chair.  He went over to it and with a couple of short blows he broke off two of the legs and brought them back to Suteko.  "These should be the right size."  He lay them along Suteko's leg and broke off a bit to make them fit closer to her size.  Then he reached down and placed his hands on her ankle.   Motioning for Akane to get behind her he looked up at his sister. "Are you ready?"

Suteko took a deep breath and nodded.  Ranma pulled her leg in a sharp motion and the knee popped back into place.  Suteko let out a groan and her eyes rolled back in her head.  Akane caught her as she slumped. Ranma quickly bound the boards to her knee.  After a moment Suteko groaned again and opened her eyes.  "Remind me to never have you do that again," she tried to joke.   Ramna moved forward to hug his sister while Akane poured water over the unconscious Shampoo and Mousse.

"Let me help you up, sis."  He pulled her up and helped her to balance.  "Lean on me."  Suteko nodded as she tried to put her weight on the damaged leg.  The bracing kept it from collapsing but it was very painful.  She hissed as pain shot up her leg.  Ranma looked concerned but for once kept his mouth shut.

Suteko swallowed, "OK, I can do it."  She pushed away from Ranma.  "Go get Ryouga and let's get out of here."

Ranma nodded and moved to pick up Ryouga.  He mumbled under his breath, "this would be much easier if you were P-chan."

Akane brought over Shampoo-cat and Mousse-duck and handed them to Suteko with a concerned look.  Suteko gave her a weak smile as she took the pair.  It was awkward but she got them balanced and started toward the room's only window.  She wasn't sure just how she was going to keep up with Ranma and Akane.  They should be able to go out the window to the ground and then back to the temple to escape. 


Suteko opened the window and looked out.  It was a straight drop from the window to the roof of the first floor.  "That's a long drop," she whispered.

Ranma moved up behind her and looked out.  "Not too bad.  Should be a piece of cake."  He looked over to Akane.

She nodded.  "No problem."  They both turned to Suteko.

She shook her head.  "No way I can do it.  Leg won't take the drop."

"I'll go out first and come back up for you."

Suteko shook her head.  "Not a good idea.  You'll need to get across the compound fast.  I don't think a second trip is advised."  She smiled then, "Besides there is no need.  I can make my way out the way I came in."

Ranma looked doubtful.  "Won't the old man just be able to catch you?"

Suteko shook her head.  "Not while I'm like this."  She limped to the side and disappeared.  At the look on Ranma's face she smiled again.  He really wanted to know how she could do that, it was obvious.  Her voice floated out of nowhere.  "Once this is over, I'll teach you."  She was surprised herself though.  She hadn't been sure that she could pull it off, holding onto the cat and duck.  "It must be the lesser size," she thought.  She started back across the room toward the door.  "Meet me at the temple."

Ranma noticed that he could see where she was walking.  "I can still see your footprints."

Suteko stopped for a moment and took a deep breath.  She had to remember that.  Being careful in where she stepped she reached the door and passed through it.  The hall way was empty but she could hear the men coming up the stairs.  She called back into the room. "Hurry, they're coming!"

		*********************

Suteko stepped into the hall and made her way to the opposite wall.  The guards ran up the stairs and bunched up by the door awaiting Ito's orders.  Holding her breath she slid to the side.  As long as their attention was focused away from her she should be able to get out and away.  She looked down at the two she was carrying.  The duck would make an occasional snore.  She muffled his head in the loose folds of her clothing and continued to side step down the hall.

As she reached the top of the stairs Ito crested them.  He stood for a moment, a puzzled look on his face.  He felt something, could almost hear a noise.  He shook his head and trotted over to his men.  Suteko breathed a quiet sigh of relief and started down the stairs.  It was difficult and she kept up a running list of curses in her mind as the knee shifted slightly each time she put her weight on it.  She knew she was going to be out of action for quite a while and that wasn't good.  When Ito realized the team had been removed from his hands he was going to head directly to the dojo to get them back.  Her mind whirling with plans she moved down the stairs.

		************************

Ranma nodded at Suteko's warning and stepped up onto the windowsill.  Adjusting Ryouga, he leapt down, landing lightly.  Akane followed a moment later.  The courtyard was empty as far as Ranma could see with a quick scan.  He looked over and nodded to Akane and then leapt down, running across the ground.  Akane was close on his heels.  They made it to the temple easily and Ranma eased Ryouga onto the floor.  "Akane, stay here and take care of Ryouga and Ucchan.  I'm going back for Suteko and the others."

"Ranma you can't!  Suteko said to wait here for her!"  Akane dropped Ukyo to the floor and reached out to grab her fiancé's arm.

Ranma smiled down at Akane and shrugged.  "I can't let her work her way through that alone.  She's hurt, remember?"

Akane nodded and then looked up.  "We should both go."

"No, Akane.  You have to watch over our friends." He reached out and gave her a quick hug and then blushed.  "I can't let my new found sister fall back into that man's hands."  His face changed as he mentioned Ito.  It was clear he wanted to get his hands on the old man.  He turned and dashed out of the temple before Akane could say more.

		**************************

Ito swung open the door and the guards charged in.  They stopped quick as they saw no one in the room.  Ito pushed past them and looked down.  He stood just over two piles of clothing and wet spots.  "So, they have escaped."  His eyes moved to the open window.  "I knew having that window here was a foolish thing."  He walked to the window and looked out.  The yard was empty for a moment and then he saw a flash of red and black as someone ran across the compound.  He turned about quickly, yelling orders.  "They are in the compound!"

The guards turned and rushed out the room.  Ito smiled.  If Ranma was returning to the house it must mean that his granddaughter was still in the house.  He moved to his desk and flipped switches.  Though hard to track the family gift has it's drawbacks.  He turned on the heat sensors.  The house was near empty.  The guards were on the monitor rushing down the stairs.  He smiled as he saw a heat signature ahead of the guards.  That had to be his granddaughter.  The figure was moving slowly,  Like an injured person.  As the clump of guards neared it moved back against the wall.  He got up and stepped out of view himself.  He would teach the girl to interfere with the plans of her betters.

		***************************

Suteko had almost made it to the ground floor when she heard a commotion behind her.  She moved to the side and turned to look.  There behind her was the mass of guards that had just been on the third floor.  Why were they heading this way?  She pressed up against the wall and let them pass.  Her mind whirling it finally hit her what had happened.  Ranma must have decided to come back to get her.  Swearing she forced herself to move faster.  She couldn't believe that when he was out of this madhouse that he would come back in.  She had to get out of here and warn him or at least distract the guards.

		***************************

Ranma reached the door into the house and slid inside.  It was still quiet here.  "Guess she hasn't made it here yet."  He catfooted across the hall and back toward the stairs.  He knew she had to come out here somewhere.

Suteko had to stop for a few minutes when she reached the bottom of the stairs.  She was flickering in and out of sight.  She finally dropped back into sight.  Panting, she sat down hard on the bottom stair.  Holding herself out of sight while carrying two other living things was very hard.  With her injuries it was near impossible.  Her vision swam for a minute and she felt all her injuries doubled.  Gritting her teeth she got to her feet and headed to the hall.  The guards had all run out the front of the house and it was clear for a moment.

Ito moved quickly out of the room and down the stairs.  The girl was surely finding it hard to hold the invisibility.  He had been injured years ago and found that holding the family secret hard when the body wanted rest.  She should have just about run out of push and be near collapse.  It would be fitting to be there as she found out the limits of the family secret once again.  He lightly ran down the stairs and was at the top of the final flight as Suteko flickered into view.  He smiled and slowed.  "Ah, the girl is already finding it so.  Good.  Once I have her, her brother will follow."  He moved down the stairs.

Ranma came around the corner as Suteko had just reached out a hand to steady herself.  He looked about and then darted to her side.  He caught her as she found that determination wasn't enough to hold her up.  She looked up and grimaced.  "Hello, brother, fancy meeting you here."  She collapsed into his arms, letting go of the duck and cat as she passed out.

Ito smiled as he saw the brother grab onto his fainting sister.  As he had said before women were weak.  It would be child's play to take the boy now.  His attention was fixed on his sister.  Ito moved down the stairs and decided that the look on the boy's face as he killed the girl was too tempting to pass up.  He fazed back in to sight.  "What a sweet sight," his voice dripped with contempt.  "The brother who has just beaten his sister near to death is now hovering in concern over the same sister."

Ranma's head snapped up at Ito's first words.  His arms tightened about Suteko's unconscious form for a moment and then he eased her to the floor, next to Mousse-duck and Shampoo-cat.  He quickly stepped to shield them.  "And who made me hurt her!"  Ranma's eyes flashed with anger.

Ito chuckles and stood with his hands on his hips.  "Ah, you would have made a fine tool boy.  Such a lust for battle."  Ito's eyes turned to the girl on the floor.  "With her as your partner I could have made the house great again."  He sighed.  "But, I imagine you too have that damnable honor ingrained in you too?"

Ramna moved forward a few steps.  He wasn't sure what to do.  he was used to opponents who attacked first.  The old man was just talking at him.  Though puzzled Ranma didn't let down his guard.  Which was good because between one breath and the next Ito pulled out a large staff and was upon him, swinging to take out his knees.  Ranma leapt up and kicked out toward Ito's chin.  The old man dodged back and reversed his swing to impact with Ranma's foot.  Ranma felt the staff brush his foot and he pushed off it and sprung backwards, flipping in the air and landed a few feet from his sister.  Ito moved toward Suteko, swinging his staff at her head.  Ranma darted forward and blocked the swing before it hit his sister's head.  They stood poised for a moment and then erupted into action again.  Ito whipped the staff upward, hitting Ranma's chin.  He stumbled back a step and shook his head to clear it.

Ito smiled and was standing over Suteko's downed form before Ranma finished shaking his head.  He raised his staff and brought it down on her chest.  Ranma could clearly hear the collar bone snap.  Ito prepared to swing once more for her head.  They stood poised for a moment and then erupted into action again.  Ito whipped the staff upward, hitting Ranma's chin. Before Ranma could recover, Ito adjusted his swing and took Ranma's legs out from under him.  Ranma fell hard to the floor, dazed.

Ito smiled and was quickly standing over Suteko*s downed form before Ranma could recover to stop him.  He raised his staff and brought it down hard across her chest.  Ranma could clearly hear the collar bone snap.  Ito prepared to swing once more for her head, cackling evilly. However, he had not realized that Ranma had recovered.</H4>

**********************************************

Ranma stumbled to his feet and saw Ito, who had a malicious smile on his face, about to bring down his staff in a powerful blow that would surely kill his sister. The laughter of the old martial artist fueled something deep inside Ranma. "If I don't beat him now, he'll kill Suteko_have_ to beat him" Ranma thought, gritting his teeth, his aura beginning to glow. "I _won't_ let him hurt her, I _can_ beat him.  I_can_"  Ranma's determination and confidence began to fuel his battle aura. He held out his hands, and a ball of pure chi energy began to fill them. As he turned to face the laughing Ito from the side, he released the building energy in his hands, the recoil of the blast throwing him backwards. "MOUKO TAKABISHA" he yelled.

Ito heard Ranma's cry and swiveled his head around just as the glowing ball of energy slammed into his side. Ito flew across the room and landed hard, sliding against the wall facefirst.

Ranma walked forward to stand  some distance in front of his sister's prone body, breathing heavily. He eyed the unmoving Ito across the room with suspicion. "Did I....did I beat him?" he thought to himself. His question was soon answered as the slightly dazed Ito stirred and rose to his feet unsteadily. A thin stream of blood ran down the corner of his mouth, but he quickly wiped the red strand away with the side of his hand. staring down briefly to look at the sight of his own blood on his hand, he lifted his head and looked at Ranma with an expression of pure hatred.  However, he managed to keep a cool tone as he addressed his would-be assassin.

No one has drawn blood from me in a long time, boy,=22 He said with a smirk on his face. I've enjoyed our little workout, but it's time I ended this....you've meddled far too long.  With that, he cracked a smile and quickly faded out, fading in only to pick up his discarded staff. He faded out again, coming towards Ranma. Ranma braced for the attack, knowing that Ito had to fade back in from somewhere to hit him.  Ranma saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to his left to swing at the shape, but it faded out as quickly as it appeared. He felt a movement at his back and swung his fist back in the opposite direction, but missed again.

"Is that all you can do , boy? I thought someone with a chi attack such as yours could do better," taunted Ito as he continually faded into and out of focus, appearing from the front, the side, the back, the side, and the front again, as Ranma swung and tried to adjust his stance to face Ito at the same time. Ito began fading in and out around faster and faster, until it seemed there were multiple versions of the old man surrounding Ranma. Ranma cursed under his breath.

The illusion of multiple Ito's fading in and out began to move and circle Ranma.  "Now you shall see the true power of our clan," Ito's voice spoke out of the nothingness. "Suteko told you that while invisible, you can't attack, did she not?" Ito cackled gleefully as the images moved even faster around Ranma. "Ha! Little does she know that I have perfected not only the technique, but a method of attacking with it.  Now, witness the power of the Shadow Split attack!"  The images circling the confused Ranma moved even faster. Suddenly, Ranma felt the old man's staff hit his leg. Ranma tried to block from that direction, but a second hit came on his back. Before Ranma could even cry out in pain, another hit clipped his arm. Ranma fell to his knees, as Ito laughed maniacally.

"Damn!" Ranma thought as more little staff hits began to pelt him from all directions "This technique....it's like that Splitting Cat Hairs Technique the old ghoul does.  And this time I ain't got no piece of chicken to beat it!* Ranma flinched as another hit from the staff came down across his neck.

"How do I beat it?" Ranma thought desperately. He shook his head and thought hard through the haze of pain. "How did I beat this kind of thing the last time.....?"

"Wait!" Ranma thought,as realization hit him.  "I don't need a piece of chicken...I just need...a distraction.  That's how I got the old ghoul that time!" Ranma yelped as the staff blows began to rain down on him harder.  "I'd better think of one fast, before he decides to finish me off."

Ranma quickly scanned the room, which was empty. There weren't many things to distract Ito.  Then he spotted Suteko's body in front of him.  He smiled.

Standing up as he felt pain shoot up through his body, he pretended to avert his eyes past Ito's images. "Suteko!  Finish him now!  Hit him from the back before he gets me!"  he shouted to Suteko'unconscious form.

Ito paused in his attack. "What?  She couldn't have recovered that quickly!" he thought.  He swung his head back around for the briefest of seconds in the direction Ranma was looking in.  Ranma saw the split second opening in Ito's attack as he saw the original Ito turn his head through the false images of himself. Ranma grinned to himself as he saw that his gamble had worked and leaped above the circle, diving down in the direction of the real Ito.

Ito realized too late he had been fooled as his eyes fixed on the still prone Suteko. He managed to turn in time to see Ranma's leaping form bearing down on him. Ito could only defend with his staff desperately as Ranma rained down a chestnut fist on him, the multi-images of Ito fading away in the process. Ito backflipped away from Ranma as he attacked and landed on his feet, holding out his staff in an attack position, smirking.  "That all you can do?"

Ranma only landed and grinned at Ito, taking a karate stance.

Ito wondered what Ranma was grinning at, and then felt his staff splinter and crack in his hands. The staff crumbled into sawdust and Ito cursed.  "So. You decided to aim for my staff, and not me. Not bad. I should only expect such from you."  Ito resumed his cool demeanor and crossed his arms as he stared at Ranma.

"Heh.  Not bad is right, old man." Ranma said.  "Now fight me fair!  Hand-to-hand."  He shuffled his feet onto another stance.

"I'd like to," Ito said with a smirk, "but I have...other matters...to attend to. I am very impressed, grandson. There are not many who can stand against me, let alone break my staff."  He faded out. As he left the room, his words wafted back to Ranma.

"I give you the battle today, grandson. But the war is far from over....you and your sister will be mine yet! Be prepared, kin of the clan."  With that, he was heard no more, his evil laughter echoing along the walls of the room.

Ranma walked over to Suteko, who was finally stirring.  "You all right?" he said with concern on his face.

Suteko groaned as she felt the new injury.  "Yes," she paused for a shallow breath.  "I'll be fine."  She pushed herself up to a sitting position and looked up at Ranma.  "You know, you shouldn't have come back for me.  Ito could have killed you."  Suteko said with a cross expression on her face. The look, though, quickly turned to one of gratitude as she stared at her brother. "Thanks, little brother."

Ranma grinned.  "No problem, Sis.  Now let's get you out of here.  Akane's waiting with the others."  He helped Suteko stand and then scooped up Shampoo and Mousse.  With a shudder he handed her Shampoo cat and supported her as they walked out of the room.

Suteko kept craning her neck, looking for the guards or Ito.  After they reached the open ground of the compound she was startled as Ranma scooped her up and raced across the ground.  "Ranma?"

Ranma quickly covered the ground and entered the temple before answering Suteko.  "Yeah?"

"What happened with Ito?"  There was a smoldering fire in her eyes as she said his name.

Ranma's eyes matched her's when he put her gently down on her feet.  "He backed off, Suteko."

Puzzled she was going to press for more information when Akane came from the shadows.  "You made it!" she whispered fiercely.  She stepped to Ranma's side and it looked to Suteko like she wanted to hug Ranma.  She was surprised when they just looked at each other for a moment and turned to face her.  Akane noticed that they both sported more bruises than when she had left them.  She nodded and went to Suteko's side, taking Shampoo-cat from her.  "I put Ukyo and Ryouga in the tunnel.  Ranma give me Mousse and let's get out of here."</H4>

********************************

Once out of the tunnel and back into the small shop Akane went to call for help.  Ranma carried Suteko over to a cot and lay her down.  "Stay still sis.  Dr Tofu will be here soon and he can fix you right up."

Suteko nodded and closed her eyes.  The adrenaline high had run out and she was very tired and hurting.  "Ranma, we have to think of something to do.  Ito will be back."

Ranma sat next to his sister and brushed back the hair from the face that was so like his own.  "Don't think about it now, sis.  Just rest.  We'll deal with him when he shows."

"But..."

"Shh.  Rest."  Suteko couldn't argue anymore and went to sleep.

********************************

She awoke to a sharp pain as her shoulder was set.  "DAMN!*  She cried out and tried to struggle.

"Easy, Suteko.  Let the doctor work."

She opened her eyes and blinked a couple times before focusing on Ranma's face.  "Where?"  She darted her eyes around.   She was in a small white draped room, lying on what felt like a hospital bed.

"We're at Doc Tofu's"  Ranma smiled and pointed with his chin at the Doctor.

Suteko blushed as she realized she was mostly undressed.  "Please relax Suteko.  This will only take a few more minutes."  She brought her gaze to look at the doctor.   His face was kind and he was preparing some type of bandage.  She nodded and took a deep breath, closing her eyes and trying to focus on something other than her shoulder.  "You are in quite a mess young woman.  You should be at a hospital."  The doctor looked over at Ranma with a stern expression.

"Aw, Doc.  It was easier to bring them all here.  Besides she's going to be ok, right?"  Suteko could here the concern in Ranma's voice.  She smiled.  He really cared.  It surprised her.  No one had truly cared about her since her uncle had died.

After the doctor had bound her shoulder he turned to find out what the commontion out in the waiting room was.  Akane had gone to get the fathers and the family had returned to the clinic.  The whole family trooped in to see for themselves that Ranma and Suteko were all right.

Genma was beaming with pride.  He had his son back in one piece and now had a fine strong daughter too.  "I'm proud of you girl.  You are a real Satome."

"Pop."  Ramna started to glare at his dad but Suteko broke in quietly.

"Whether I am a Satome or not is not important, Genma."  It was clear by her tone that she had yet to find anything good about her father.  "I got my brother into trouble and it was my duty to bring him out."  She struggled to sit up.

Kisume moved to her side and placed a gentle hand on the uninjured shoulder to stop her.  "You should not move around so much, Suteko.  You need rest."  She turned her huge eyes toward her father.  "I believe we should put her in with Akane.  She will need a place to rest and recover."

Akane nodded before her father could say anything.  "She can have the bed until she is all better.  After that we will think of something else."

Suteko started to object.  She didn't wish to put anyone out.  "I can take a hotel room."

Kisume just looked at Suteko for a moment and then, "No, I think you should stay with your family.  It's only right."

"Great, another Satome in the house."  Nabiki cracked.  "Can we offord it?"

Suteko mummered.  "I will pay my way.  I have enough money to support myself for a time.  I don't want to be a bother."

Nabiki looked surprised.  A Satome who was willing to pay without being asked?  Amazing.  Her mind whirled with the thought.  "That's ok, Suteko.  You and I can work something out later."

"All right, everyone.  It's time to let Suteko rest.  I want her to stay here for the night.  You can come and get her tomorrow."  Doctor Tofu sounded very professional.  The family all gave Suteko a pat on the hand and trooped out.  As Kasumi walked past Tofu, his face took on a goofy look and he spun off into the waiting room.  Ranma stayed behind to talk with his sister a little more.

You're going to be ok, sis."  He looked like he wanted to say more but wasn't sure how to say it.

"I know bro.  I'm just really tired.  I think I overdid it there at the end."  She tried to laugh but groaned as her chest hurt.

Ranma sat carefully on the edge of the bed.  "Suteko?"  Ranma really wanted to ask a few questions, now that they were alone.

"Yeah."

"What are you going to do now?"  He looked at a loss for words.

Suteko sighed.  She wasn't sure herself.  Her mother had disowned her and after a year on her own she wasn't sure she was ready to life with a family.  "I don't know.  I can't go home now."  She blinked as she remembered the warm little home she had shared with Uncle Tanto.

"You could stay with me,  I mean us."  He looked hopeful.  Having a sister was something he really wanted to explore.  In the short time he had dealt with her he had come to like her alot.

"I'll have to think about it Ranma.  But it doesn't matter right now.  You're stuck with me for a while."  She smiled.  "At least until I heal from your amazing handiwork."  She joked with him but quickly turned serious when a look of guilt crossed his face.  "Ranma, don't.  It wasn't your fault.  You had no idea who or what I was at the time."

"Still I shouldn't have struck out."  A puzzled look took over the guilty one.  "I can remember what I was thinking then and even then I didn't feel right.  Like what I was doing was wrong."

"Probably because you have a strong sense of right and wrong, brother.  Ito hadn't taken that from you."

Ranma's face hardened at Ito's name.  "We are going to have to do something about him."

"True.  He isn't going to give up on you so easily."

"On us, sis.  He wants you too."

"What?!"  Suteko looked surprised.  "He wants me too?"

Ranma nodded.  "Plans on pairing our abilities."

Suteko looked thoughtful.  "And since he knows about our curses.  Hmmm."  She looked up.  "We are going to have to be careful.  He can be anywhere and we wouldn't know it."  She stared at her brother for a moment and then nodded.  "Ranma, when I'm back up and around we are going to have to start training together."

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, you gotta teach me that disappearing trick."

"That and a few other things and you much teach me.  Build up my speed.  When we face Ito again I have to be able to keep up with you."

Before they could say anymore Doctor Tofu came into the room.  "That's enough for now Ranma, Suteko needs to rest.  You two can talk tomorrow."  He gestured for Ranma to go past him.  As he did Tofu spoke quietly to him. "Don't worry, I will watch over her.  No one will harm her tonight."

"Thank doc.  I'll be here in the morning to bring her home."  He looked back one more time. "Night, sis.  See ya tomorrow."

Suteko smiled and nodded.  "Tomorrow."
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The end for now......

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There you go.  The entire of the Sins of the Father fanfic.  Hope your have enjoyed my little story.  I am currently working on a bried interlude before I start the sequel to this story. 

As always C&C is appriecated.

Lisa Prior
writer of stories and teller of tales

PS: I know I have Kasumi spelled wrong in places.  I will fix that soon!